This psychology handout challenges students to distinguish between common misconceptions and scientific facts regarding research methods and human behavior.
Psychology research methods fact or falsehood worksheet handout with true or false questions.
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Step-by-step solution for: HANDOUT 2-1 Fact or Falsehood?
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: HANDOUT 2-1 Fact or Falsehood?
Let's go through each statement in the "Fact or Falsehood?" worksheet and determine whether it is True (T) or False (F), based on psychological science principles. I'll provide a brief explanation for each.
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1. Human intuition is remarkably accurate and free from error.
F – *False*
Explanation: Human intuition is often flawed due to cognitive biases (e.g., confirmation bias, overconfidence). Psychology shows that intuition can lead to errors, especially in complex or unfamiliar situations. Critical thinking and scientific methods are needed to correct intuitive errors.
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2. Most people seem to lack confidence in the accuracy of their beliefs.
F – *False*
Explanation: In fact, most people tend to have overconfidence in their beliefs, even when they are wrong. This is known as the overconfidence effect—people often believe they are more accurate than they actually are.
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3. Most people suffer from unrealistically low self-esteem.
F – *False*
Explanation: Research shows that most people have inflated self-esteem, not deflated. People tend to view themselves more positively than others do, a phenomenon known as the self-serving bias or positive illusion.
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4. The opinions of 1500 randomly selected people can provide a very accurate picture of the opinions of an entire nation.
T – *True*
Explanation: With proper random sampling, a sample size of around 1,500 is statistically sufficient to estimate population opinions with high accuracy (typically within ±3 percentage points). This is a well-established principle in survey research.
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5. Research suggests that students spend more than 28 percent of their waking hours in conversation.
T – *True*
Explanation: Studies (e.g., time-use surveys) show that people, including students, spend a significant portion of their waking time talking. Some estimates suggest around 30% of waking hours are spent in conversation, so this is plausible and supported by data.
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6. The scientific finding that depressed people tend to have low self-esteem proves that depression causes people to be down on themselves.
F – *False*
Explanation: Correlation does not imply causation. While depression and low self-esteem are correlated, we cannot conclude that one causes the other. It could be that low self-esteem contributes to depression, or that both are caused by a third factor (e.g., genetics, trauma). Direction of causality must be tested experimentally.
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7. The purpose of the experiment is to re-create behaviors exactly as they occur in everyday life.
F – *False*
Explanation: Experiments aim to isolate variables and test cause-and-effect relationships under controlled conditions. They often simplify real-life situations rather than recreate them exactly. Naturalistic observation is used for studying behavior in real-world settings.
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8. Males and females exhibit similar overall intelligence and well-being.
T – *True*
Explanation: Psychological research consistently shows that males and females have similar average IQs and overall levels of well-being. While there may be small differences in specific cognitive abilities (e.g., spatial vs. verbal), these do not reflect overall intelligence differences.
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9. Under ethical and legal guidelines, animals used in experiments rarely experience pain.
F – *False*
Explanation: While ethical guidelines (like those from the NIH or APA) require minimizing animal suffering, some experiments do involve pain or distress, especially in medical or neuroscience research. However, regulations mandate anesthesia, humane treatment, and justification of procedures. But saying they “rarely” experience pain is misleading—pain can still occur.
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10. As a science, psychology is objective and value-free.
F – *False*
Explanation: While psychology strives for objectivity, it is not entirely value-free. Researchers’ values can influence topic selection, interpretation of data, and application of findings. Additionally, cultural and social values shape psychological theories and practices. Science aims for objectivity, but complete neutrality is difficult.
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1. F
2. F
3. F
4. T
5. T
6. F
7. F
8. T
9. F
10. F
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This worksheet emphasizes critical thinking in psychology—recognizing myths, understanding research methods, and avoiding common misconceptions. These questions align with Unit 2: Research Methods in psychological science.
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1. Human intuition is remarkably accurate and free from error.
F – *False*
Explanation: Human intuition is often flawed due to cognitive biases (e.g., confirmation bias, overconfidence). Psychology shows that intuition can lead to errors, especially in complex or unfamiliar situations. Critical thinking and scientific methods are needed to correct intuitive errors.
---
2. Most people seem to lack confidence in the accuracy of their beliefs.
F – *False*
Explanation: In fact, most people tend to have overconfidence in their beliefs, even when they are wrong. This is known as the overconfidence effect—people often believe they are more accurate than they actually are.
---
3. Most people suffer from unrealistically low self-esteem.
F – *False*
Explanation: Research shows that most people have inflated self-esteem, not deflated. People tend to view themselves more positively than others do, a phenomenon known as the self-serving bias or positive illusion.
---
4. The opinions of 1500 randomly selected people can provide a very accurate picture of the opinions of an entire nation.
T – *True*
Explanation: With proper random sampling, a sample size of around 1,500 is statistically sufficient to estimate population opinions with high accuracy (typically within ±3 percentage points). This is a well-established principle in survey research.
---
5. Research suggests that students spend more than 28 percent of their waking hours in conversation.
T – *True*
Explanation: Studies (e.g., time-use surveys) show that people, including students, spend a significant portion of their waking time talking. Some estimates suggest around 30% of waking hours are spent in conversation, so this is plausible and supported by data.
---
6. The scientific finding that depressed people tend to have low self-esteem proves that depression causes people to be down on themselves.
F – *False*
Explanation: Correlation does not imply causation. While depression and low self-esteem are correlated, we cannot conclude that one causes the other. It could be that low self-esteem contributes to depression, or that both are caused by a third factor (e.g., genetics, trauma). Direction of causality must be tested experimentally.
---
7. The purpose of the experiment is to re-create behaviors exactly as they occur in everyday life.
F – *False*
Explanation: Experiments aim to isolate variables and test cause-and-effect relationships under controlled conditions. They often simplify real-life situations rather than recreate them exactly. Naturalistic observation is used for studying behavior in real-world settings.
---
8. Males and females exhibit similar overall intelligence and well-being.
T – *True*
Explanation: Psychological research consistently shows that males and females have similar average IQs and overall levels of well-being. While there may be small differences in specific cognitive abilities (e.g., spatial vs. verbal), these do not reflect overall intelligence differences.
---
9. Under ethical and legal guidelines, animals used in experiments rarely experience pain.
F – *False*
Explanation: While ethical guidelines (like those from the NIH or APA) require minimizing animal suffering, some experiments do involve pain or distress, especially in medical or neuroscience research. However, regulations mandate anesthesia, humane treatment, and justification of procedures. But saying they “rarely” experience pain is misleading—pain can still occur.
---
10. As a science, psychology is objective and value-free.
F – *False*
Explanation: While psychology strives for objectivity, it is not entirely value-free. Researchers’ values can influence topic selection, interpretation of data, and application of findings. Additionally, cultural and social values shape psychological theories and practices. Science aims for objectivity, but complete neutrality is difficult.
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Final Answers:
1. F
2. F
3. F
4. T
5. T
6. F
7. F
8. T
9. F
10. F
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This worksheet emphasizes critical thinking in psychology—recognizing myths, understanding research methods, and avoiding common misconceptions. These questions align with Unit 2: Research Methods in psychological science.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of what is a falsehood worksheet answer.
